USC football: Will Harris' 'Deion' moment comes with a penalty

They're back.

The USC Trojans?

Despite USC's 14-9 victory at Arizona State, that remains to be seen.

This is about penalties.

USC was flagged nine times for 98 yards against the Sun Devils. Two on the USC defense kept an Arizona State scoring drive alive. Two on the Trojans offense stifled a USC drive.

Safety Will Harris also was penalized after he high-stepped the final 10 yards of his 55-yard interception return for a touchdown.

"He screwed it up and thought he was Deion [Sanders]," Coach Pete Carroll said.

-- Gary Klein 

Photo: USC's Will Harris high-steps it into the endzone after intercepting a pass intended for Arizona State Kyle Williams in the second quarter. Credit: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[gerrrg]

It didn't seem that egregious; that penalty I didn't mind. The personal fouls are the ones that bothered me...and USC has been getting them in bunches this season.

[Don Gregg PhD]

Having been a follower of USC Football since 1960 and most importantly a loyalist in the good and bad times, I have been stunned by the showboating and taunting that now follows a significant play. Will Harris and others now remind me of the attitude of the University of Miami before the fall, they haven't yet accomplished anything in their careers and have been burned numerous times on the field and yet make one play and say "look at me". I hope we get back to winning with class and act like Champions.

[Brian Horn]

Calm down now Don Gregg. There is no comparison of ANY USC team to Miami teams. They were and remain the most disgusting program in NCAA by a slim margin over Florida.

What Harris did was improper and should be nicked in a hurry, but to take that and a few other small issues and equivalate SC to Miami is simply going too far.

All college teams need to exercise some humility and restraint from excessive celebrations. When I played college ball in the mid 70's it was much more of a team sport. You just never saw this kind of selfish attention grabbing. I wonder what went wrong in college sports over the last 30 years to allow this kind of behavior.

Any ideas?

[Roland Minami]

Will Harris made a terrific play and strutting into the endzone seems a minor offense to merit a penalty, unlike for example, taunting a specific player or committing personal fouls. Nevertheless, I believe it is the coach's responsibility to clearly warn players about such selfish, showboating behavior which is a reflection on the character of the player, the coaches, and ultimately the university and sometimes these small mistakes may loom large and affect the outcome of the game. No doubt the coaches are doing this but they cannot always control on the field behavior. Maybe Vince Lombardi had it right when he said something like, "If you get to the endzone act like you've been there before."

[glaze]

If you put in the work and play hard. You should have a little fun. I think most people forget that sports are just games. What he did wasn't over the top. Everyone calls the NFL the no fun league. Well soon college football will be th same. He didn't get in anyones face or taunt the ASU sideline. It seems that we're taking more and more of the natural joy, excitement and fun of the sports. As an ex college athlete I enjoyed playing. I didn't mind if someone made a good play and had fun with it. I always believe if you don't like it well don't watch. If players don't like it then make the right play so you won't have to watch someone else celebrate

[Manny Miles]

Act like you've been in the end zone before.

[shelley H]

I cannot believe anyone is upset by this very simple act!!

I say let them have fun and celebrate when it's appropriate and this was his time to celebrate.

So to all you poor sports get a life!!

We Trojans always have class never been without it ... ever!

[Jeff]

Manny says for him to act like he's been in the end zone b4... but I dont think he has. At least not recently. Nothing wrong with the highstepping, it was a bs penalty. Thats like telling players not to raise their hands when they score.

[jtbwriter]

Shelley H and others-fun is one thing-using profanity and showboating is something else! Either get in the endzone or celebrate on the sidelines with class or get benched! Only then will the Trojans get back the respect they deserve!

[Walt Meyer]

Well, let's see...........

We are a football team that is in the throes of transistion; big time!

In April the NFL draft claimed several of the best football players in our school history (maybe NCAA history). In January we saw several of the most talented and experienced assistant coaches exit the program for well earned opportunities at other schools. New assistants, all well regarded, are still adjusting their skill sets to our way of doing business. The leadership on the field is generally young and lacking in experience and the injury bug has bitten us in several places. By the way, we've barely been home enough to wet the shower stalls in the Coliseum locker room.

Any of us who operate in the world of business would be very pleased to weather changes like that and still show a profit; Pete Carroll is showing a profit.

We all want more one sided victories. Patience Trojans, they'll come.

Walt Meyer

[Leibowitz]

Manny, the problem with your critique is that Will Harris has never been in the end zone before.

[fedup]

"..let them have fun"..??? RIGHT...until it's done at YOUR expense. It's turned into a 'me' mentality. Look at me! How great am I. What about the 10 other guys on your TEAM? I don't mind a little enthusiasm and celebration AFTER the play is over. But when it's done DURING the play, it's grandstanding. It's 'in your face' taunting crap. Sport doesn't need it. Collegiate sport absolutely doesn't need it. Any team representing California or the Pac10 conference doesn't need it.

[GaryK]

Hey Shelly H...You're really funny. Most people know that the phrase "trojan class" is one of the classic oxymorons!

[Jeff Shinn, USC '75]

Well,it looks like Pete's team barely made it by an lower-50% team. How long will this continue?

Who teaches tackling at USC? Pete said that Will Harris 'screwed up', but what will the sanction be?

How about if Pete turns practice into practice instead of a carnival? Getting them ready for the NFL? Well, that's what Pete's doing, all right. Maybe he should get the team ready to play COLLEGE football.

[Holly Star]

The officiating world has been in a funk for the last two months, hence the term Blindtober and the wholesale "reassignment" in baseball of umpires. Apparently calling balls and strikes accurately has become a major issue.

College football officiating this year has been atrocious. The Iowa-Indiana game was a debacle to be remembered for the ages.

USC is occasionally held to a different standard by the officials in order to make a game closer than it might normally have been. Saturday's "judgement calls" kept Arizona State in the game, and I think the same could have been said for the Notre Dame game. It appeared the Sun Devils could have been called for holding on every single pass play as well.

That 15 yard excessive celebration call is in itself a bad rule; as is horsecollaring. Nonetheless, they exist and you might as well follow them if you want to win.